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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 8h

“These proceedings could determine whether you remain in the country or are removed.” But what does that mean to a 13-year-old without an attorney? A 7-year-old? A 3-year-old? Children need legal support and processes designed around their age and development to meaningfully participate.

cnn.com

Inside the Texas courtroom where toddlers face immigration judges | CNN Politics

Migrant children as young as 2 are showing up at immigration courts nationwide, many without attorneys, to try make their case to stay in the US and avoid deportation.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 29/09/2026

A fair legal process can't depend on a child understanding immigration law alone. Yet unaccompanied children are facing the U.S. immigration system without attorneys. The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act would guarantee them legal counsel. Urge Congress to support the bill. bit.ly/3TqQriw

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 23/09/2026

Unaccompanied children in U.S. federal custody deserve strong safeguards. Yet in Texas, facilities housing them operate without state child-welfare licensing as more children are sent there. Oversight matters. Children in immigration custody deserve protection and accountability.

theguardian.com

Trump officials sending undocumented children to Texas sparks fears of mass deportation

Exclusive: Nearly 90% of children in federal custody being directed to GOP-controlled state that has unlicensed facilities and low legal representation rates

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 21/09/2026

U.S. federal agencies are increasingly coordinating policies that make it harder for unaccompanied children to reunify with family, access legal representation, seek protection, and avoid prolonged detention. When protections are weakened at every stage, children face the consequences.

theguardian.com

Trump ally Stephen Miller leads sweeping push to accelerate removal of migrant children

Exclusive: key White House loyalist orchestrating multi-agency effort condemned by critics as cruel and racist

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 17/09/2026

An 11-year-old waited nine hours for his U.S. immigration court case to be called. He was one of 25 children in a mass virtual hearing. About half had lawyers. He did not. Children should not be expected to navigate the immigration system alone. Access to legal counsel is critical to due process.

english.elpais.com

Nine hours in front of a computer: An 11-year-old waits his turn in a mass hearing for migrant minors

An activist recounts accompanying the boy through the long wait for his appearance before an immigration judge after the federal government cut funding for organizations that provide legal representat...

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 17/09/2026

On U.S. #CitizenshipDay, we’re reminded why pathways to citizenship matter. For unaccompanied children, they offer the stability, safety, and fully belong in the communities they now call home. Protecting those pathways helps make that future possible.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 09/09/2026

Children are being given as little as 3 weeks to find a lawyer as their immigration cases move forward. Meanwhile, asylum grant rates for unaccompanied children fell to about 1.5% in July. Due process cannot be rushed. Children deserve a fair chance to make their case.

news.bloomberglaw.com

Asylum Grant Rates Plummet for Migrant Children in Removal Cases

Unaccompanied children who appear before immigration judges have less than a 2% chance of getting their asylum claim approved, according to preliminary analysis of court data since President Donald Tr...

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 28/08/2026

Now more than ever, unaccompanied and separated children need protection systems that uphold their rights and help them reach safety and stability, especially when they have been forced to flee violence, persecution, conflict, or abuse.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 25/08/2026

Children are being given as little as three weeks to find a lawyer before their immigration cases move forward. Reducing a court backlog can't mean rushing children through proceedings they don't understand and expecting them to navigate the system alone.

news.bloomberglaw.com

Immigration Judges Speed Through Migrant Children Removal Cases

A Guatemalan teen learned in a Manhattan immigration court hearing that he had just under two weeks to complete an asylum application — in a language he didn’t know.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 24/08/2026

A 1-year-old was told to file an asylum application or risk deportation. An attorney was reportedly in the courtroom but did not intervene. That is not meaningful representation. Children need lawyers who know their cases and advocate for them, not simply courtroom coverage.

notus.org

Judge to Baby: File an Asylum Application

The 1-year-old is one of the migrant children who advocates say appeared in immigration court without legal representation.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 20/08/2026

Systems meant to protect unaccompanied children are now feeding detention and deportation instead. Longer custody. Sponsor arrests. Child-welfare information used for enforcement. Weakened access to counsel. Every child deserves due process, protection, and a chance at safety.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 17/08/2026

New policies are making it harder for unaccompanied children to pursue legal protections—and could move deportation cases forward before their claims are fully resolved. Children deserve a meaningful chance to seek protection and due process.

politico.com

The Trump administration is reducing legal pathways for immigrant kids to stay in the US

A flurry of Justice Department rulings are starting to impact the deportation proceedings of thousands of children.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 17/08/2026

Teachers can change what school feels like for immigrant students. For 40+ years, Plyler v. Doe has helped protect children’s right to attend public school, regardless of immigration status. But the #RighttoLearn must mean more than a seat in the classroom.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 12/08/2026

Children as young as 7 are appearing in immigration court without lawyers. POLITICO shows the consequences: children navigating complex proceedings, translation errors going unchallenged and cases with life-changing stakes moving forward without counsel.

politico.com

In a suburban Virginia courtroom, the immigration system’s strains come to life

The Trump administration is making it harder for children to secure pro bono lawyers to represent them in deportation proceedings.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 10/08/2026

A federal judge has ordered the admin to pay $65M owed to organizations providing legal services to unaccompanied children. The payments are long overdue, but they do not resolve the larger crisis. Children still need access to legal representation, due process & protection. bit.ly/4wmpR7z

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 05/08/2026

The administration is using information meant to reunite children with family to target their parents and sponsors for immigration enforcement. That puts families at risk and keeps children in custody longer. A child protection system should protect children—not target their families.

msmagazine.com

As Thousands of Migrant Children Lose Legal Representation, Trump's 'Lost Children' Myth Lives On

The Trump administration's approach to unaccompanied children is creating new barriers for those already navigating the immigration system.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 03/08/2026

Unaccompanied children now spend an average of 117 days in government custody—up from 30 days in 2024—while their immigration cases continue. As KIND’s Tess Reagan explains, a five-year-old cannot be expected to understand court proceedings or make their case without legal help.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 01/08/2026

As children’s immigration cases continue and legal help remains under threat, every conversation matters. Interpreters and translators help children communicate with legal teams, understand the process, and be heard. Speak another language? Join our volunteer network: bit.ly/3TwC23W

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 31/07/2026

Children as young as three are appearing in immigration court without lawyers. A child cannot be expected to understand immigration law, meet rushed deadlines or defend themselves against deportation. KIND’s Emily Norman described a growing “targeting of children.”

theguardian.com

Inside the New York court where children face deportation without access to attorneys

About 20,000 unaccompanied minors will lose legal representation if the federal government ends a longstanding contract on Friday, kicking current problems into overdrive across US

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 30/07/2026

More than 24,000 unaccompanied children could lose access to federally funded legal representation. Without an attorney, children are forced to face immigration court alone while navigating asylum, trafficking, family separation, and prolonged detention.

latimes.com

More than 24,000 immigrant children could lose legal representation as a federal contract expires

The termination of a federal contract that pays nonprofit organizations for providing legal assistance to immigrant children will affect 90 organizations nationwide.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 20/07/2026

“With every passing day, it becomes more difficult to discern where ORR ends and ICE begins.” KIND’s Jason Boyd warns that increased ICE involvement in sponsor vetting can deter families from coming forward out of fear and keep unaccompanied children in custody longer.

wired.com

ICE Is Using Data Broker Tools to ‘Identify Unaccompanied Minors’ and ‘Fraud’

A newly renewed, $25 million-per-year contract with a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters further expands the power of ICE under the Trump administration.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 20/07/2026

Unaccompanied children are being given less time to prepare for immigration court while the legal services they need are being put at risk. Rushing children’s cases while destabilizing their legal support is not due process.

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Reposted by Kids in Need of Defense

Gabe Ortíz @tusk81.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

“The system is not a child-friendly system,” Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) managing attorney Hillary Larsen told KUOW. “It’s virtually impossible to go through the system having the child represent themself.”

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 16/07/2026

Six children spent 118 to 505 days in federal custody, many with family ready to care for them. Several were released only after attorneys went to court. When family is ready to receive a child, every additional day in custody deepens the harm.

ctinsider.com

Six immigrant children spent as long as 505 days in federal custody as their families waited

During the months CT Insider spent reporting this story, more than two dozen immigrant children sat in federal custody in Connecticut.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 15/07/2026

KIND is without federal funding and still owed nearly $25 million for legal services already provided. Your donation helps keep lawyers beside children while their safety and futures remain at stake. Help us protect children’s rights. bit.ly/4ppvjVi

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 14/07/2026

One Seattle judge heard 106 children’s immigration cases in a single day. More than 30 children who did not appear were ordered deported. Children need legal representation and adequate time, not accelerated hearings in a system that was never designed for them.

kuow.org

Hundreds of children ordered to appear at new 'mega' immigration hearings in Seattle

The federal government this week embarked on what it says is a new way to process a backlog of children with ongoing immigration cases. Those cases, which used to take months or years to process, are ...

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Reposted by Kids in Need of Defense

Children Thrive Action Network @letkidsthrive.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

[1] Americans support education for all students, no matter where they were born. An April 2026 survey found that over 75% of respondents showed strong support for universal education. #AllChildrenBelong @neatoday.bsky.social @supportkind.org

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 01/07/2026

The Texas Supreme Court’s ruling blocking Harris County’s Immigrant Legal Services Fund threatens services for approximately 80 KIND clients, and undermines a community-backed effort to keep children from facing deportation proceedings alone. Our full statement.

supportkind.org

KIND Condemns Texas Supreme Court Ruling Decision Blocking Essential Immigration Legal Funds - KIND

Read KIND's full statement on the Texas Supreme Court ruling that blocks essential immigration legal funds for children.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 30/06/2026

For more than 40 years, Plyler v. Doe has helped protect children’s right to attend public school, regardless of immigration status. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share why this protection still matters — and what’s at stake when any child is pushed out of the classroom. #RighttoLearn

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 30/06/2026

More than 425,000 children are in immigration court without an attorney. That means children are trying to understand hearings, deadlines, and the threat of deportation without someone by their side. No child should have to go through that alone. bit.ly/4oRTriW

bit.ly

Over 425,000 Kids in U.S. Face Deportation Hearings Without Lawyers

A new analysis of federal immigration data found that 57% of children with deportation orders in the U.S. do not have access to an attorney.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 29/06/2026

A 5-year-old should not have to argue their own asylum case. But immigrant children are being pushed through a complex legal system without guaranteed counsel. New Jersey’s investment in legal representation helps children have a meaningful chance to seek protection. bit.ly/4oTZXFS

nj.com

Picture a 5-year-old defending herself in N.J. immigration court. It happens every day. | Opinion

Unaccompanied children fleeing violence have no guaranteed legal representation in immigration court, forcing New Jersey nonprofits to fill gaps that federal policy leaves wide open.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 26/06/2026

Unaccompanied children's legal services are under attack, and the funding that makes this work possible is at risk. Add your name to join KIND and members of Congress advocating for continued funding for children’s legal services. act.supportkind.org/page/99071/p...

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 26/06/2026

"The Supreme Court's decision opens the door to restrictive border measures that endanger those seeking protection — especially children. We've seen this before. Families stranded in danger, exposed to violence & trafficking." – KIND President Wendy Young

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 24/06/2026

Unaccompanied children should not face immigration court alone. Without attorneys, children are at greater risk of exploitation, trafficking, and being returned to the very danger they fled. Learn why legal representation is a critical safeguard. bit.ly/4g5sMgn

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 24/06/2026

A new EU-backed project in Albania is shifting from a law enforcement-led response to a child protection framework, strengthening social services and safeguards for children at risk. This is the kind of approach children need, one centered on safety, dignity, and care. bit.ly/4uQj0CF

infomigrants.net

Albania: EU looks to improve protection of unaccompanied migrant children mechanisms

A new EU project is shifting its response to unaccompanied migrant children from a law enforcement-led model to one focused on child protection, with new support measures including strengthened social...

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 22/06/2026

On June 23, KIND’s Jyothi Kanics will join @unhcr.org, @unicef.org, and partners for an HRC62 side event on child trafficking in the context of statelessness, forced displacement, and migration. 📍Palais des Nations, Room Concordia 5 + hybrid 🕐 1–2 PM CEST Join here: bit.ly/3QWcFrd

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 21/06/2026

For Irina*, safety meant reaching the United States — and finally being reunited with her father after a year apart. This #FathersDay, her story reminds us why family reunification matters. Watch her story: youtu.be/TDlyq7y5pgA?si=xbEUvEthHC5… *Name changed.

youtu.be

A Family Reunited: Irina's Story

YouTube video by Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 20/06/2026

At 16, Ayrad* reached Poland alone after fleeing conflict. Misleading information put him at risk of being returned to danger. With legal support and a trusted adult beside him, he found stability and a path forward. This #WorldRefugeeDay, read his story: bit.ly/4ovgYGh

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 18/06/2026

Data shows immigration officers are more than 2X as likely to misclassify the age of youth compared to social workers. Children wrongly assessed as adults have been charged with immigration offences and are being held in adult prisons, with some having already survived torture. shorturl.at/EpxXL

theguardian.com

Immigration officers more likely than social workers to assess UK asylum seekers as adults

Local authorities deem young arrivals to be children more than twice as often as border forces, Home Office data shows

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 17/06/2026

KIND is proud to endorse the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act, critical legislation that would ensure no unaccompanied child faces immigration court alone. Thank you, @lofgren.house.gov, for introducing this bill and standing up for children’s right to counsel. bit.ly/4vi86qk

bit.ly

New Bill Would Ensure No Child Faces Immigration Court Alone - KIND

KIND commends Representative Zoe Lofgren’s introduction today of the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act – legislation that would guarantee legal counsel for all unaccompanied children in immigration proce...

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 15/06/2026

Education is not a privilege reserved for some children. 44 years ago, Plyler v. Doe affirmed that all children have the right to attend public school, regardless of immigration status. As those protections face renewed challenges, we must defend every child’s right to learn.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 13/06/2026

Legal services are a child protection tool. Attorneys help unaccompanied children understand their rights, appear in court, & access protections available under the law As KIND’s Wendy Young told The Washington Post: “We are really part of the solution.” wapo.st/3Qczyq9

washingtonpost.com

Trump officials broaden investigation into unaccompanied migrant children

The effort includes criminal prosecutions, tracking down children, surprise visits to nonprofit groups and an attempt to seek help from the U.S. military.

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Reposted by Kids in Need of Defense

ACLU @aclu.org · 12/06/2026

Right now, the Trump administration is pushing unaccompanied immigrant children through mass deportation hearings. Now it's trying to force their lawyers to give up sensitive legal information. Kids deserve due process and protection, not coercion.

apnews.com

Legal groups that help migrant children say law enforcement visits were attempt at intimidation

Organizations providing legal aid to unaccompanied migrant children say agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Health and Human Services attempted to enter their offices.

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 12/06/2026

On June 11, federal agents visited KIND’s DC headquarters without a warrant in an operation targeting legal service providers for unaccompanied children. Our work to support due process and protect the most vulernable will not be intimidated. Our statement: bit.ly/4os51kX

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Kids in Need of Defense @supportkind.org · 10/06/2026

🚨 ORR’s actions could strip unaccompanied children of critical legal services, putting thousands at risk. We’re calling for accountability. Add your voice today. bit.ly/4gchh6M

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